Michigan vs. South Carolina Cost of Living Summary

Michigan is 7.1% cheaper than South Carolina.

Restaurants
pay 11.2% less in Michigan
Groceries
pay 13.9% less in Michigan
Transportation
pay 3.9% more in Michigan
Housing
pay 13.5% less in Michigan
Childcare
pay 10.9% less in Michigan
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.6% more in Michigan
Clothing
pay 6.9% less in Michigan

The cost of transportation and entertainment and sports in Michigan are more expensive than in South Carolina. Expenses including groceries, housing, restaurants, childcare, and clothing are lower in Michigan.

Michigan vs. South Carolina Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Michigan instead of South Carolina, you would:

pay 11.2% less for restaurants

 
South Carolina
Michigan
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $19.17
 
$17.26
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$11.16
 
$10.06
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.65
 
$2.43
 

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pay 13.9% less for groceries

 
South Carolina
Michigan
Bread
1 loaf
$3.44
 
$3.02
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.99
 
$5.45
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.54
 
$3.20
 

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pay 3.9% more for transportation

 
South Carolina
Michigan
Gasoline (1 gallon) $2.88
 
$3.28
 
Monthly public transit pass $46.17
 
$46.54
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $33,190.90
 
$33,599.47
 

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pay 13.5% less for housing

 
South Carolina
Michigan
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$66.47
 
$61.76
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,589.94
 
$1,257.26
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,366.92
 
$1,053.74
 

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pay 10.9% less for childcare

 
South Carolina
Michigan
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,346.85
 
$1,153.90
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $19,168.15
 
$17,706.02
 

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pay 2.6% more for entertainment and sports

 
South Carolina
Michigan
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.29
 
$4.77
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.17
 
$4.65
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$7.67
 
$9.12
 

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pay 6.9% less for clothing

 
South Carolina
Michigan
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$50.06
 
$48.69
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$35.86
 
$32.31
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$84.43
 
$83.56
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025
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